University of the Highlands and Islands
Master in Viking Studies (MLitt)
Online
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 11,450 / per course *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* Scotland: £5,820 | UK: £8,010 | International: £11,450 per year
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
About: MLitt in Viking Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands offers teaching from the Institute for Northern Studies. You’ll analyze Viking history, economy, society, iconography, runes and women’s roles. Core and optional modules cover literature, language, creative writing and North Atlantic topics. Study online with small classes; take modules toward a PgCert, PgDip, or Masters degree.
Career Outcomes: On completion you can work in tourism, heritage, museums, journalism, community or adult education, or teaching with PGDE; you can progress to PhD study. Career opportunities include heritage interpretation, museum roles, media, and research. Keywords: Viking history, Norse studies, runology.
What is special about this course?
The Vikings have been incredibly influential in world history and culture. The Institute for Northern Studies' team will be using their recognized expertise in this area to create this unique and exciting course on offer to students all over the world and to re-evaluate the Vikings; past, present, and future.
Students will be able to critically evaluate key historical, economic, and social developments in the Viking world and analyze the significance and legacy of the cultural history of the Vikings both in isolation and in a wider context temporally and geographically. You will look at Viking iconography in text and film, the role of women, and the significance of runes among other fascinating topics.
As part of the degree, you will study a set of core modules and also have the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules, bringing the study of the Viking period into a wider perspective.
Special features
- Unique course content not available anywhere else
- You are taught by international experts in the field
- We use video conferencing and a virtual learning environment to deliver the course so you can study from anywhere in the world
- Small class sizes
- You can also choose unique options in literature, language, creative writing, and the North Atlantic world
- You can study individual modules for personal or professional development, or work towards the PgCert, PgDip, or full master's degree
*Funding support notice*
Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scottish domiciled students)
Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland-domiciled students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.
Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £11,500 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan of up to £7,000 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500.
Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS. You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year program, you will be funded for a maximum of two years of part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete it within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study.
To achieve the award of MLitt Viking Studies you must complete a research dissertation.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have completed your MLitt Viking Studies, there are a variety of careers you might like to consider. Here is just a taste of the kind of opportunities available to you:
- Tourism and heritage sector
- School teaching on completion of relevant PGDE qualification
- Community Education
- Adult education
- Journalism; particularly newspaper and radio
- Working for local government agencies
- Teaching on this or similar degrees
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress to PhD study at the University of the Highlands and Islands and other institutions.
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn through a combination of video conference seminars and tutorials, and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors and student advisor
- International students requiring a Student Route visa to study with us must be based at UHI Orkney during their studies. International students undertaking the course from their home country can study online and by video conference, in real-time, or through recordings
- All other students can choose to study at UHI Orkney, or from their location studying online and by video conference in real-time or recordings
- An online induction will be offered at the start of your course
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 1 year @ 20 hours per week
- Part-time structure: 2 years @ 10 hours per week
The number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- Orkney
This course is delivered online with scheduled seminars and may also be of particular interest to students in Perth and Shetland who are interested in evaluating key archaeological, historical, economic, and social developments in the Viking world.